602 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 29, 1905. 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS. 
FUCHSIAS and HELIOTROPES. 
FOR INDOOR BLOOMING IN AUTUMN. 
It is m the autumn, when many of the 
plants that have done duty in the greenhouse 
during the summer begin to show signs of ex¬ 
haustion, that we realise how advantageous it 
is to have others at hand fresh witli ihe 
promise of bloom for weeks still to come. 
There are not a few simple things that one 
meets with in most houses in the early 
summer that are frequently overlooked in re¬ 
gard to their value for blooming in autumn, 
and amongst such we select well-known sub¬ 
jects like Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and Helio¬ 
tropes. It is not because these plants email 
a considerable amount of trouble to get them 
in a state of perfection in November so much 
as it is their being thought of and prepared at 
the right time, and I therefore venture to 
bring before the notice of readers these old 
flowering plants that everyone is acquainted 
with, and that, rightly treated, will produce 
blossoms with just as much freedom in the 
late autumn days, filling a house with a wealth 
of beauty and colour that is not to be dis¬ 
counted. 
It is, of course, obvious that plants which 
have bloomed the summer through cannot be 
expected to go on flowering unchecked in the 
autumn and winter, as for this purpose one 
must have a stock of plants that have been 
specially grown, and at no better time can one 
make a start than the present. In the case of 
the trio mentioned, viz., Zonal Pelargoniums 
Fuchsias, and Heliotropes, they may be had 
in flower well on up to Christmas, and, with 
perhaps the exception of Fuchsias, for a much 
longer time. 
For securing plants, therefore, that shall 
bloom from October and onwards, it is needful 
that certain arrangements should be followed 
now. Young plants struck this spring should 
be potted on. and for some weeks at lea«t 
should be kept under glass, being; encouraged 
in every possible way, removing all flower buds 
as they show, and aiming at building up the 
plants for future flowering;. 
A suitable compost will be found in good 
friable loam, leaf mould, and bone meal, with 
sufficient sharp sand added that will assist 
drainage. As a general rule 5-in. pots will be 
found large enough in which to bloom them, 
and after thev have become established in 
these, and each shoot of the Heliotropes and 
Fuchsias have been tied out, the plants may 
be placed out of doors in cold frames, the 
lights of which can of course be removed. 
Some resort to the practice of standing the 
plants on beds of ashes, in the same way as 
thev treat their Chrysanthemums ; but there 
is this to be said against it, that as they are 
in much smaller pots they soon dry up, whilst 
in an empty frame they are not quite so much 
exposed to wind, and they are more easily 
dealt with in regard to watering. 
In August the plants will benefit with the 
application of liquid manure made from sheep 
droppings, administered weak, and this may 
be varied with guano. Following this course 
one cannot help hut get good-sized plants with 
well-rioened wood, and if the buds ha-re been 
carefully picked off as they should be the 
plants will by the middle of September be 
ready for removal indoors, after which time 
they should be encouraged to flower. 
I do not hesitate to say that, notwithstand¬ 
ing the beauty of the Chrysanthemum, against 
which no one would wish to say a word, we 
have much also that is beautiful in the Zonal 
Pelargoniums for the late autumn and winter, 
the tints of which are even more brilliant 
than those of the autumn Queen, but it is to 
be feared that the popularity of the latter has 
shut out from many establishments these once 
much-thought-of flowering plants. A selec¬ 
tion of Zonals for autumn blooming will be 
found in the following : — 
Doubles — Crimsons ; Raspail Improved, 
Colossus, Leonard Kelway. Salmon : Apricot, 
Gloire de France, King of Denmark. White : 
Hermione, Le Cygne, Miss Gertrude Ash¬ 
worth. Pink: Rosa Bonheur, Triomphe de 
Nancy, Dr. Yerstin. Scarlet: Gorgeous, 
Turtle’s Surprise. The doubles will be found 
to last much longer in bloom than the singles, 
and for autumn and winter this should not be 
forgotten. Singles for late blooming are best 
represented by the undermentioned: — 
Hyacinth (bright scarlet), Niphetos (white), 
Olive Carr (pink), Norah (blush white), Imo¬ 
gen (salmon), and John Gibbons (an old but 
good crimson scarlet). 
I do not wonder at houses being devoted to 
Chrysanthemums, but I do feel surprised when 
I visit establishments in the winter to find 
that the Zonal has no place amongst things in 
bloom, for surely of all blossoms few things are 
more cheerful or so diversified in colour as 
these in the dull, dreary months of the year, 
and they require little heat to bring them to 
perfection, a minimum of 50 deg. ensuring a 
most brilliant display, whilst a less tempera¬ 
ture will carry them on for long ; indeed, it 
goes without saying that under cooler treat¬ 
ment- one gets the best from them. 
In regard to Heliotropes for autumn and 
winter, much the same treatment is needed. 
It is essential that plants should be specially 
prepared for this purpose, should have a few 
months of outdoor treatment in order that the 
wood may be thoroughly ripe, and so in the 
autumn when they are brought indoors with 
strength conserved by the buds having been 
removed all the summer one has large healthy 
plants ready for bursting in flower almost as 
soon as they come under glass. As much, of 
course, on account of their sweet smell as for 
their beauty are the Heliotropes prized, and 
the sorts shown below may be relied upon to 
flo wer freely:—Madame de Bussy, blue with 
white centre, very sweet ; Lady Amherst, 
violet; President Garfield, bright mauve- 
purple ; Swanley Giant, bright blue, very large 
trusses; The Queen, nearly white, very 
fragrant; White Lady, white. 
Fuchsias are so universally admired that it 
seems a pity we do not prolong the flowering 
season more than we are accustomed, and in 
preparing them for autumn blooming I would 
urge upon those who take up their culture 
the importance of keeping them free from 
buds during the summer, the necessity of sup¬ 
plying them with water iust when such is 
required, the keeping of the shoots tied out. 
the occasional use of the syringe, and the 
minor duties that go so far to usher in the 
autumn plants prepared for flowering when 
others have ceased. 
That thev will bloom most profusely in Sep¬ 
tember and October when previously prepared 
can be abundantly proved by anyone affording 
them a light airy house with a minimum 
temperature of 45 deg., and I venture to say, 
after a number of years’ experience with them, 
that Fuchsias are not the least interesting of 
blossoms for giving beauty to a house in the 
later days of autumn. Here are some varie¬ 
ties that should be in every collection : — 
Doubles:—Achilles, Phenomenal, Madame 
Carnot, La France, Frau Emma Topfer. Mr. 
Gladstone, Chilwell Beauty, Doris, Duchess 
of Edinburgh. 
Singles : — Gertrude Pearson, Champion, 
Royal Purple, Letty Lye, Harry Brooks, 
Flocon de Neige, Cecil. 
As will be seen, I have recommended that a 
start be made with young plants, because one 
may expect good results from them, but it 
does not follow that older plants cannot be 
induced to flower freely in autumn ; in fact, I 
am interested in places where one of the 
things specialised for autumn and winter is 
the zonal, and two of the principal sorts for 
imparting brightness to the conservatories are 
the crimson of Raspail Improved, with im¬ 
mense trusses, and the pure white of 
Hermione. 
The plants are grown on in 10-in. pots in a 
liberal compost and fed well, with the result 
that from October to May bright blossoms are 
never wanting. Whilst recommending the 
taking in hand of simple subjects like those 
mentioned, I do not overlook the claims that 
Bouvardias, Cyclamens, Primulas, and other 
things have upon us. but my experience 
prompts me to say that whilst the three last 
named are generally grown, the former for 
autumn flowering are frequently overlooked. 
Gershom- 
KALMIAS • • ■ 
BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN SHRUBS. 
Among the most beautiful introductions 
from North-Western America in^ the. eigh¬ 
teenth century must be included Kalmia- lati- 
folia or Calico Bush. The latter name is 
seldom use! in England, which, perhaps, is 
just as well, as it is not at all descriptive ot 
the plant. 
Although this shrub grows slowly, it is very 
long lived, some examples in this garden 
having been planted fifty years ago. When 
mixed with other shrubs in a border it is 
seldom seen at its best, as they soon out¬ 
grow it and exclude the very necessary light 
and air. Its compact habit, beautiful ever¬ 
green leaves, curiously-shaped delicate pink 
and white buds—somewhat like an inverted 
umbrella made of coloured sugar—and 
flowers, freely borne in terminal corymbs at 
midsummer, make it especially suitable for 
planting as a single specimen on small lawns 
where space is restricted, or in groups in 
grounds of greater extent. As there ai’e varie¬ 
ties varying from pink to white, monotony in 
a group may be avoided, and yet the corymbs 
of flowers are so beautifully shaded as never 
to produce sharp contrasts. The colour of all 
varieties is deeper in bud than when ex¬ 
panded. 
Some shade from midday sun is an advan¬ 
tage, but should be from tall shrubs or trees 
at a considerable distance. This slight shadt 
has the effect of keeping the peaty soil whicl 
they love in a moister and more genial condi 
tion, thus preventing their fine roots fron 
being dried up. Good drainage is essential 
Decayed cow manure and sandy leaf mould 
such as can often be obtained in woods on : 
sandy soil, form a good top dressing. \ T oun; 
shoots can be rooted under a hand light in s 
shady place, but young plants can always b 
bought at a reasonable rate ; larger plant 
are, however, expensive, as they take som 
time to grow. If old specimens become un 
healthy they may be improved by taking ou. 
a circular trench beyond the radius of th 
